Testors spray 3oz can #1961 Gloss... disaster.

Just a suggestion, but it's a good practice to try a test spray on something, before actually laying paint on the subject. I learned the hard way, then sometime later did it again. Dang.

Hope you were able to salvage the model as well as you had wanted it to be.

Patrick 

I have had this problem with many old spray cans of many brands.  It is almost impossible to completely clean the nozzle of a typical spray can. I sure wish they sold nozzles seperately- say in a bag with a dozen or so, to be able to use fresh nozzles periodically on old cans.

Don Stauffer

It is common for nozzles to get plugged up and have a negative effect on the spray quality, as the can ages and is used a few times. I get around this by keeping a small glass jar filled with enamel thinner, when I finish the job I hold the can inverted and spray until the spray diminishes, (2 or 3 seconds or so.) If using lacquer, then use that as the medium in the jar. 

I put the nozzle in the jar and shake it a bit to distribute the thinner throughout the nozzle, then just let it soak until the next use. The nozzles never give me a problem when stored this way.

Another method is to use one of the little pipettes filled with thinner, spray that through the entry point of the nozzle, you'll know it's clean when you see clear liquid leaving the nozzle.

 

I have had this problem with many old spray cans of many brands.  It is almost impossible to completely clean the nozzle of a typical spray can. I sure wish they sold nozzles seperately- say in a bag with a dozen or so, to be able to use fresh nozzles periodically on old cans.

 

 

patrick206

 

 

Don Stauffer

It is common for nozzles to get plugged up and have a negative effect on the spray quality, as the can ages and is used a few times. I get around this by keeping a small glass jar filled with enamel thinner, when I finish the job I hold the can inverted and spray until the spray diminishes, (2 or 3 seconds or so.) If using lacquer, then use that as the medium in the jar. 

I put the nozzle in the jar and shake it a bit to distribute the thinner throughout the nozzle, then just let it soak until the next use. The nozzles never give me a problem when stored this way.

Another method is to use one of the little pipettes filled with thinner, spray that through the entry point of the nozzle, you'll know it's clean when you see clear liquid leaving the nozzle.

 

I have had this problem with many old spray cans of many brands.  It is almost impossible to completely clean the nozzle of a typical spray can. I sure wish they sold nozzles seperately- say in a bag with a dozen or so, to be able to use fresh nozzles periodically on old cans.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I have had problems leaving nozzles off cans very long. Paint seems to then clog the valve in the can, and I don't know how to clean that.

Guys ,

I should have mentioned in the initial post that the can of MM1961 gloss was brand new and just took the wrapper off. That's why I was questioning Testors quality control.

The spray came out of the white nozzle pinhole (as it should), and also out of the seal where the nozzle goes into the can. It was coming out of two places. So that seal was faulty. I don't really care about the $4 bucks for the laquer, its the hours of sanding, masking and repainting that you can't put a price on.  Never had this happen in all the years of using this product in the 3oz can.

I guess, in probability, the more you use the stuff the higher the chance to get a bad can.

Wanted to update............Scale Hobbyist sent me a new can (very good of them).  The problem seems to be if you press the nozzle all the way down it will break the can seal and start coming out of the bottom of the nozzle as well......If you can find the "Sweet spot".....about halfway down it's OK.

Hope this saves someone a disaster....always test first away from the model.

Wilbur Wright

Guys ,

 

I should have mentioned in the initial post that the can of MM1961 gloss was brand new and just took the wrapper off. That's why I was questioning Testors quality control.

 

The spray came out of the white nozzle pinhole (as it should), and also out of the seal where the nozzle goes into the can. It was coming out of two places. So that seal was faulty. I don't really care about the $4 bucks for the laquer, its the hours of sanding, masking and repainting that you can't put a price on.  Never had this happen in all the years of using this product in the 3oz can.

I guess, in probability, the more you use the stuff the higher the chance to get a bad can.

 

Funny you should bring this up: I had the exact same problem with a Testors can of gloss white last week; it didn't spray out of the base of the nozzle, more like oozed out, but I would guess that as much paint came out of the base of the nozzle (where it goes into the can and is SUPPOSED to be sealed) as came out of the nozzle itself. MY LHS is almost an hour away, so I figured I'd just deal with it (plus, I also had a second can of gloss white in my stash). I tried different (used) nozzles, but it still oozed out, so I'm assuming it's the can that's defective. Fortunately, the paint doesn't spray anywhere (maybe because it's thicker than the clear?), it just pools up in the little indentation around the nozzle.

I believe Testors should be made aware of this issue.  Could be a bad batch of spray cans. Maybe FineScale could inform them this is going on.  This happened on my replacement can of MM clear gloss laquer as well.